Merchandise display system and unit

ABSTRACT

A unit for a merchandise display system, comprising: a support surface for supporting a plurality of merchandise items in a first orientation and defining a travel path for said plurality of merchandise items to a display receptacle, said support surface configured to urge said plurality of merchandise items to said display receptacle; a display receptacle coupled to a dispensing end of said support surface and comprising: a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of said plurality of merchandise items from said support surface to a display region and reorienting said at least front-most merchandise item from said first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and a display region for receiving said at least front-most merchandise item from said support surface and for holding said front-most merchandise item in said display orientation in which a display surface of said merchandise item is upright.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a unit for a merchandise display system and a merchandise display system. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a unit for a merchandise display system and a merchandise display system for the automatic facing of merchandise items.

BACKGROUND

“Facing” (also known as blocking, zoning, straightening, rumbling, or conditioning) is a common practice in the retail industry to create the look of a perfectly stocked store (even when it is not) by pulling all of the products, or merchandise items, on a display or shelf to the front. It is also done to keep the store appearing neat and organized. Retailers, wholesalers and showrooms place their merchandise products on shelves in certain ways. They may arrange merchandise product packages in colourful horizontal or vertical patterns, featuring some brands more than others. For example, products on a shelf may be arranged in “columns” in which the products extend rearwardly from the front-most product of each column. However situated, “facing” is when merchandise items are moved to the edge of shelves with their fronts facing outward. Customers can then easily identify each brand when making their selections. Facings can apply to many different merchandise products, including cereal, canned soups, toilet paper and books.

As customers remove merchandise items from shelves, remaining items must be moved forward either by store operatives or a customer attempting to purchase the item. Also, when a front-most item is removed from a shelf, it is difficult for customers or prospective customers to see the remaining merchandise items, which may be spaced back from the front portion of the shelf.

Some merchandise display systems and units include mechanical pushing apparatus to achieve automatic facing. In these merchandise display systems and units, the mechanical pushing apparatus pushes remaining merchandise items forward when a front-most merchandise item of a column of merchandise items is removed.

Other types of merchandise display systems and units suitable for automatic facing include those that employ gravity feed elements in which merchandise items in a column of merchandise items move under the influence of gravity along a downward course to a position at the front of the merchandise display system.

Whilst merchandise display systems and units of the types as described above have been satisfactory and may continue to be satisfactory in certain instances, the inventors have recognised that it may be desirable to provide merchandise display systems and units that can accommodate and automatically face irregular shaped products and/or products having irregular shaped packaging. The inventors have also recognised that it may be desirable to provide merchandise display systems and units in which columnar arrangements of merchandise items are maintained and where lateral movement of merchandise items relative to a column of merchandise items is inhibited. The inventors have also recognised that it may be desirable to provide merchandise display systems and units that can prevent or inhibit customers searching unsystematically and untidily through an ordered display of merchandise (for example, to look for a fresher merchandise item at the rear of a shelf). This can lead to an untidy display of merchandise items, which previously had been neat and tidy. As will be appreciated, the increase in disorder of a display of merchandise items may reduce the visual impact (compared with an ordered display) and thus prove less attractive to potential customers.

The present invention has been devised with the foregoing considerations in mind.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a unit for a merchandise display system, comprising: a support surface for supporting a plurality of merchandise items in a first orientation and defining a travel path for said plurality of merchandise items to a display receptacle, said support surface configured to urge said plurality of merchandise items to said display receptacle; a display receptacle coupled to a dispensing end of said support surface and comprising: a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of said plurality of merchandise items from said support surface to a display region and reorienting said at least front-most merchandise item from said first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and a display region for receiving said at least front-most merchandise item from said support surface and for holding said front-most merchandise item in said display orientation in which a display surface of said merchandise item is upright.

Presenting the front-most merchandise item in a display orientation where the display surface of the item is upright may improve visibility of the display surface to customers.

Optionally, the travel path may be further defined between a first lateral wall upstanding from a first lateral edge of the support surface and a second lateral wall upstanding from a second lateral edge of the support surface. Further optionally, a width of the travel path may correspond to a spacing between the first and second lateral walls and wherein the travel path width may be configurable to correspond approximately to a merchandise item width.

The first and second lateral walls may prevent sideways movement of merchandise items from a “column” of items in the unit. This may allow an “ordered” appearance of a merchandise display to be maintained.

Optionally, the first lateral wall may comprise, at an end remote from the support surface, and over at least a portion of a length of the first lateral wall, a flange that extends transversely toward the second lateral wall, and the second lateral wall may comprises, at an end remote from the support surface, and over at least a portion of a length of the second lateral wall, a flange that extends transversely toward the first lateral wall.

A combination of the first and second lateral wall, flanges and support surface define an enclosed channel in which merchandise items can be located. The enclosed channel may prevent or inhibit customers from searching unsystematically and untidily through an ordered display of merchandise (for example, to look for a fresher merchandise item at the rear of a shelf). Therefore, an ordered appearance of a merchandise display may be maintained.

Optionally, the flanges may extend only from a portion of the length of the first and second lateral walls (i.e. the flanges are shorter in length than the walls from which they extend), and may be located at forward portions of the walls. Such an arrangement provides a top opening into the enclosed channel at the rear of the unit. The top opening can be used to re-stock a unit in which stock is partially/fully depleted. Having the top opening at the rear of the unit may also encourage store operatives to re-stock the unit from the rear (rather than simply re-stocking by pushing merchandise items into the unit from the front). This may support so-called FIFO (first-in, first-out) inventory control and may reduce: the amount of merchandise items near a “best before, “use by” or “expiry” date, which a retailer will usually discount in price to achieve sales of the items; spoilage through disposal of out-of-date stock; and reduced labour required to perform constant inventory checks for out-of-date stocks.

Optionally, the support surface may comprise a friction reducing agent and, further optionally, the friction reducing agent may comprise a low-friction sheet disposed on the support surface.

A low-friction support surface may be provided to allow merchandise items located in the merchandise display unit to slide more easily over the support surface.

Optionally, the support surface may further comprise a biasing element arranged to urge the plurality of merchandise items to the display receptacle. The biasing element may be located at the rear of the merchandise display unit and may be configured to act on a rear-most merchandise item located in the merchandise display unit. The biasing element pushes against this rear-most item to urge the item (and those items in front of it) forward toward the display receptacle. This may assist in “automatic” facing of merchandise items.

Optionally, the support surface may be inclined relative to a horizontal. The support surface may be inclined such that a rear edge of the support surface is at a greater elevation than a front edge of the support surface. Merchandise items located on the support surface may be urged from the rear edge to the front edge of the support surface (and thus toward the display surface) under the influence of gravity.

Optionally, the transfer region comprises a surface inclined relative to a horizontal. The transfer region surface may be inclined such that a rear edge of the transfer region surface is at a greater elevation than a front edge of the transfer region surface. The inclined transfer region surface causes a merchandise item approaching the transfer region from the rear of the unit to tip forward from the first orientation toward the display orientation. Continued forward, tipping and downward movement of a merchandise item over the transfer region causes the item to move to the display region and be oriented in the display orientation. An angle of inclination of the support surface to a horizontal is less than an angle of inclination of the surface of the transfer region to a horizontal. The greater angle of inclination of the surface of the transfer region to the horizontal (compared with the angle of inclination of the support surface) serves to tip the merchandise item forward and may aid its passage to the display receptacle.

Optionally, the display region may comprise a retaining portion and a display region support surface, the display region support surface for supporting a merchandise item in the display receptacle and the retaining portion for maintaining the merchandise item in the display orientation. Further optionally, the retaining portion may form an acute angle with the display region support surface. Yet further optionally, the acute angle may be 45°. A display receptacle having a 45° angle between display region support surface and retaining portion may be suitable for holding merchandise items having triangular cross-section (e.g. sandwiches).

Optionally, the unit may comprise a discrete unit configured for location on a shelf of a merchandise display system. Further optionally, the unit may comprise an engagement element for coupling the unit to a cooperative engagement element located on a shelf of the merchandise display system. The engagement element may comprise a runner system for engagement with a cooperative runner system of the cooperative engagement element of the shelf of the merchandise display system, the runner system configured to permit movement of the unit from a display position on the shelf to an extended position in front of the shelf. In such an arrangement, the unit may be removable from the shelf of the merchandise display system.

Discrete units may increase the ease in which merchandise display systems employing the merchandise display unit may be stocked, re-stocked and/or de-stocked. For example, when an individual unit is empty, it can be pulled forward from the shelf (or removed entirely) to allow it to be re-stocked.

Optionally, the unit may comprises a plurality of merchandise items located therein and, further optionally, may comprise a removable packaging enclosing the unit Again, this may increase the ease in which merchandise display systems employing the merchandise display unit may be stocked and/or re-stocked. When a unit is empty, it can be removed from the display system and a ready-stocked unit can be put in the display system in its place. The ready-stocked unit could be provided by a supplier. That is, the unit could be pre-loaded with items by a supplier at its premises prior to distribution to stores—a so-called “shelf ready packaging” (SRP) unit. When the SRP unit is received at a store, the removable packaging can be removed from the unit and the unit can be loaded onto a shelf (i.e. no store operative is required to stock the unit first).

Optionally, the unit may further comprise a support surface element located in the unit, the support surface element configured to cover the transfer region of the display receptacle and a portion of the display region of the display receptacle, the support surface element for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of the plurality of merchandise items from the support surface to a raised display region formed from at least a portion of the support surface element and an uncovered portion of the display region. Further optionally, a portion of the support surface element may be configured to serve as the support surface of the unit. Yet further optionally, the support surface element may comprise a friction reducing agent and/or a friction reducing element. Further optionally, the friction reducing agent and/or friction reducing element comprises a low-friction sheet disposed on the support surface element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandise display system, comprising: a shelving array comprising a plurality of shelves; at least one unit as described above and hereinafter located on at least one of the plurality of shelves. The system may be, for example, a gondola system comprising a plurality of shelves, with each shelf containing a plurality of merchandise display units.

Optionally, the shelf surface may serve as the support surface instead of a separate support surface in the unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display receptacle for a unit of a merchandise display system, comprising: an engagement element for coupling the display receptacle to a dispensing end of a support surface of the unit; a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of a plurality of merchandise items located on the unit from the support surface to a display region and reorienting the at least front-most merchandise item from a first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and a display region for receiving the at least front-most merchandise item from the support surface and for holding the front-most merchandise item in the display orientation in which a display surface of the merchandise item is upright.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display receptacle for a merchandise display system, comprising: an engagement element for coupling the display receptacle to a dispensing end of a shelf of the merchandise display system, the shelf comprising a support surface of the merchandise display system; a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of a plurality of merchandise items located on the merchandise display system from the support surface to a display region and reorienting the at least front-most merchandise item from a first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and a display region for receiving the at least front-most merchandise item from the support surface and for holding the front-most merchandise item in the display orientation in which a display surface of the merchandise item is upright.

A display receptacle may be retrofitted to each shelf in a merchandise display system.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support surface element locatable in a unit as described above and hereinafter, the support surface element configured to cover a transfer region of a display receptacle of the unit and a portion of a display region of the display receptacle of the unit, the support surface element for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of a plurality of merchandise items in the unit from a support surface of the unit to a raised display region formed from at least a portion of the support surface element and an uncovered portion of the display region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention are described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display unit according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1b illustrates a side view of the merchandise display unit;

FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of the merchandise display unit containing merchandise items;

FIG. 2b illustrates a side vide view of the merchandise display unit containing merchandise items;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side vide view of the merchandise display unit to show a path of travel of a merchandise item loaded into the unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the merchandise display unit located on a shelf in a merchandise display system according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5a illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display system according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5b illustrates a front view of the merchandise display system;

FIG. 5c illustrates a side view of the merchandise display system;

FIG. 6a illustrates a perspective view of a display receptacle according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6b illustrates a side view of the display receptacle;

FIG. 7a illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element for location therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7b illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element located therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7c illustrates a side view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element located therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7d illustrates an enlarged side view of a portion of the merchandise display system and support surface element of FIG. 7 c;

FIG. 8a illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element for location therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8b illustrates a perspective view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element located therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8c illustrates a side view of a merchandise display system, including a plurality of merchandise display units, and a support surface element located therein according to one or more embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 8d illustrates an enlarged side view of a portion of the merchandise display system and support surface element of FIG. 8 c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a merchandise display unit 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The merchandise display unit 10 comprises a support surface 12, which comprises an elongate planar element upon which at least one merchandise item can be supported. The length of the support surface 12 is such that a plurality of merchandise items can be located adjacent one another in a “column” over the length of the support surface 12. A first lateral wall 14 upstands from a first side edge of the support surface 12 and a second lateral wall 16 upstands from a second side edge of the support surface 12. The first and second lateral walls 14, 16 serve to prevent sideways movement of merchandise items out of the “column” of merchandise items.

The merchandise display unit 10 further comprises a display receptacle 18 located at a front edge of the support surface 12. The display receptacle 18 may be removably coupled to the support surface 12. The display receptacle 18 is configured to retain a front-most merchandise item in a display orientation.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the support surface 12 is inclined rearwardly such that a rear edge of the support surface 12 is at a higher elevation than the front edge of the support surface 12.

The display receptacle 18 (also illustrated, in more detail, in FIGS. 6a and 6b ) comprises two regions, namely: a transfer region 20; and a display region 22. Transfer region 20 comprises a planar element inclined rearwardly such that a rear edge (i.e. an edge proximal to the front edge of the support surface 12) is at a higher elevation than a front edge of the transfer region 20. The rear edge of the transfer region 20 is coupled to the front edge of the support surface 12. An angle of inclination of the transfer region 20 to the horizontal is greater than an angle of inclination of a display region support surface 24 of the display region 22 to the horizontal.

The display region 22 of display receptacle 18 comprises the display region support surface 24 and a retaining portion 26. The display region support surface 24 comprises a planar element in which a rear edge is connected to a front edge of the transfer region 20 and a front edge is connected to a first edge of the retaining portion 26. The retaining portion 26 comprises a generally planar element in which the first edge is connected to the front edge of the display region support surface 24 and which upstands from the display region support surface 24, terminating at a second, free edge remote from the first edge. Display region support surface 24 is inclined rearwardly such that the rear edge is at a higher elevation than a front edge of the display region support surface 24. The display region support surface 24 serves to support a bottom surface of a merchandise item in the display receptacle 18 and, when a merchandise item is located in the display receptacle 18, serves, in combination with the retaining portion 26, to hold the merchandise item in a display orientation.

The particular merchandise display unit 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b is configured to hold merchandise items having a triangular cross section (e.g. sandwiches). In this regard, the display region support surface 24 forms an acute angle θ with the retaining portion 26. In particular, the acute angle θ optionally may be 45°. Thus, the region defined between the display region support surface 24 and the retaining portion 26 is configured to receive a corner of a merchandise item held in the display receptacle 18.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the transfer region 20, display region support surface 24 and the retaining portion 26 of the display region 22 of the display receptacle 18 may, in one or more optional arrangements, be configured so as to receive merchandise items having different shapes (e.g. square, rectangular, etc.).

The first lateral wall 14 comprises, at an edge remote from the support surface 12, a flange 28 that extends transversely therefrom towards the second lateral wall 16. The flange 28 extends from the remote edge of the first lateral wall 14 over a portion of a length of the first lateral wall 14. Similarly, the second lateral wall 16 comprises, at an edge remote from the support surface 12, a flange 30 that extends transversely therefrom towards the second lateral wall 14. The flange 30 extends from the remote edge of the second lateral wall 16 over a portion of a length of said second lateral wall 16.

The support surface 12, first and second lateral walls 14, 16 and flanges 28, 30, define a substantially enclosed channel for containing merchandise items. The substantially enclosed nature of the channel may prevent customers from disturbing merchandise items arranged in the column (for example, in an attempt to reach items located further back in the column).

Rearmost sections of the first and second walls 14, 16 do not have flanges extending therefrom. This provides a top opening 32 of the merchandise display unit 10 through which merchandise items can be loaded into the merchandise display unit 10 at the rear.

The retaining portion 26 comprises an opening 34 in the second, free edge of the retaining portion 26. The opening 34 serves to increase the amount of a display surface of a merchandise item that can be seen when the item is located in the display receptacle 18.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate the merchandise display unit 10 containing a plurality of merchandise items 36. A front-most merchandise item of the column of the plurality of merchandise items 36 is denoted by reference numeral 36 a.

The merchandise items 36 have a generally flat or planar rear surface 37, a substantially flat or planar front surface 40 and a substantially flat or planar bottom surface 41. One or more of surfaces 37, 40, 41 of packaging of the merchandise items 36 typically include printed indicia in the form of text and/or images relating to the merchandise item. When displaying merchandise items 36, it is generally preferred to display front surface 40 most prominently. Therefore, the front surface 40 can be considered to be a display surface (i.e. a surface containing text and/or images to identify the merchandise item within the packaging). The merchandise display unit 10 is configured to present the front-most merchandise item 36 a in a display orientation (i.e. with the front surface 40 (i.e. display surface) in an upright manner (optionally vertical) for ease of visibility of the merchandise item 36 a by customers).

The front-most merchandise item 36 a is held in the display receptacle 18 in a display orientation (i.e. with the front surface 40 upright) through a combination of the display region support surface 24 supporting a bottom surface 41 of the merchandise item 36 a and the retaining portion 26 abutting the front surface 40 of the merchandise item 36 a.

Further merchandise items 36 of the plurality of merchandise items are located behind the front-most merchandise item 36 a within the merchandise display unit 10.

When the front-most merchandise item 36 a is removed from the display receptacle 18, the remaining merchandise items 36 in the column slide forwards over the support surface 12, under the influence of gravity, toward the display receptacle 18. As the new front-most merchandise item reaches the display receptacle 18, its bottom surface 41 will pass over the transfer region 20, which is at a steeper angle of inclination than the angle of inclination of the support surface 12, and the item will tip forward. The item will continue tipping forwards and moving downwards under the influence of gravity until a lower corner of the item is captured in the corner between the display region support surface 24 and the retaining portion 26. In this position, a lower front portion of the bottom surface 41 is supported by the display region support surface 24 and a lower portion of the front surface 40 abuts the retaining portion 26.

The support surface 12, first and second lateral walls 14, 16, display receptacle 18 and flanges 28, 30 are, in one or more embodiments of the present invention, formed from plastic material (optionally acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)).

FIG. 3 illustrates a side vide view of the merchandise display unit 10 to show a path of travel of a merchandise item 36 loaded into the unit 10.

The merchandise item 36 is loaded into the merchandise display unit 10 at the rear of the unit through top opening (not shown). As the merchandise item 36 is dropped through the opening it will land upon the rear of the support surface 12 and begin to descend by gravity (see arrow A). The merchandise item 36 will continue to descend and move along the support surface 12 towards the display receptacle 18 located at the front of the merchandise display unit 10 (see arrow B). As the merchandise item 36 reaches the front of the support surface 12, its bottom surface 41 will pass over the transfer region 20, tip or rotate forwards and continue to descend and tip or rotate until its progress is stopped by the lower corner of the merchandise item 36 being constrained by the display region support surface 24 and the retaining portion 26 (see arrow C). At this point, the merchandise item 36 has reached a presentation position and is held in the display orientation. Further merchandise items 36 can be loaded into the merchandise display unit 10 and will proceed through the unit in a similar manner to rest against the front-most item.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the merchandise display unit 10 located on a shelf 38 in a merchandise display system 44 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

The merchandise display system 44 may comprise a standard gondola system that includes a base (not shown) and an upright assembly (not shown) having spaced vertical bars that have vertical rows of vertical slots for receiving cooperating hooks of brackets for supporting shelf panels.

In FIG. 4, a portion of a single shelf 38 having a single merchandise display unit 10 located thereon is shown to aid clarity. The shelf 38 comprises a shelf panel 40 supported by brackets 42 (of which only one is shown in FIG. 4). The shelf 38 is inclined downwardly such that a rear edge is at a higher elevation a front edge thereof. The merchandise display unit 10 is located on the top surface of the shelf panel 40 of shelf 38 with the display receptacle 18 of the merchandise display unit 10 extending forwards beyond the front edge of the shelf 38.

As will be appreciated, multiple merchandise display units 10 can be arranged on the same shelf panel 40 adjacent the single unit shown in the figure. Further, a plurality of shelves, containing a plurality of merchandise display units, can be arranged in the gondola system above and/or below the shelf 38. Such a merchandise display system 44 is illustrated in FIGS. 5a to 5 c.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate the display receptacle 18 in more detail. The retaining portion 26 of the display receptacle includes a slot 46 on a lower front surface thereof. This slot is configured to receive an information bearer. The information bearer may contain details regarding the merchandise items held in the merchandise display unit (e.g. pricing information). The information bearer may be removable to allow a different information bearer to be located in the slot 46 (i.e. when different merchandise items are located in the merchandise display unit).

In the above-described one or more embodiments, the merchandise display units are described, in an example, as being formed from plastic material (optionally Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)). In one or more further optional arrangements, the merchandise display units may be formed by extrusion and/or by injection moulding. In one or more other optional arrangements, the merchandise display units may be formed from other materials suitable for the environment in which the merchandise display units are to be located (e.g. metal (optionally steel)). In one or more yet further optional arrangements, the display receptacle may be formed from a transparent material, to increase visibility of the display surface of the front-most merchandise item being held by the display receptacle. Optionally, the material may be polycarbonate.

In the above-described one or more embodiments, the merchandise display units are described, in an example, as being discrete units for location on a shelf. In an optional arrangement, the merchandise display units may comprise an engagement element for coupling the unit to a shelf of a merchandise display system (and/or to a cooperative engagement element located on a shelf of a merchandise display system). In one or more further optional arrangements, the merchandise display units may comprise a runner system for engagement with a cooperative runner system of the cooperative engagement element of the shelf of the merchandise display system, the runner system configured to permit movement of the unit from a display position on the shelf to an extended position in front of said shelf. Thus, the unit may be moved from the display position to an extended position where the unit extends from the shelf so that a store operative can re-stock the unit with merchandise items and/or remove merchandise items from the unit. In one or more yet further optional arrangements, the merchandise display unit may be removable from the shelf of the merchandise display system, for example, to allow re-stocking of the unit at a remote location and/or stock removal from the unit at a remote location.

In another optional arrangement, instead of using discrete units in the merchandise display system, the system may be configured such that a shelf (or shelves) of the merchandise display system act as the support surface (or surfaces) of the merchandise display unit. Multiple lateral walls may be coupled directly to a top surface of a shelf panel of each shelf and spaced apart to separate each shelf into a number of “channels”, into each of which may be loaded a plurality of merchandise items. The “channels” effectively form the merchandise display units described above. Instead of a separate discrete display receptacle for each channel, a single display receptacle may be provided, the single display receptacle configured to extend over the length of the entire front edge of the shelf. One or more embodiments that employ this type of arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 7a to 7d and 8a to 8d , and are described further below.

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate perspective views of a merchandise display system 44, including a plurality of merchandise display units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c and support surface elements 48 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 7a , the support surface elements 48 are shown in a position above a position where they are to be located (to illustrate that the support surface elements 48 are, in the illustrated example, removable elements that can be added to an existing merchandise display system (and also removed therefrom)). In FIG. 7b , the support surface elements are shown in an engaged position in the merchandise display system 44.

In the illustrated example of FIGS. 7a and 7b , the merchandise display system 44 comprises three merchandise display units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c. Of course, the merchandise display system may comprise any number of merchandise display units.

Each of the merchandise display units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c comprises a support surface 12, which, in the illustrated example, comprises an upper surface of the shelf panel of the shelf.

A first lateral wall 14 a upstands from a first side edge of the support surface 12 and a second lateral wall 16 a (also (14 b)) upstands from the support surface 12, and is spaced from the first lateral wall 14 a. The first and second lateral walls 14 a, 16 a serve to define sides of a first merchandise display unit 10 a of the merchandise display system 44.

A third lateral wall 16 b (also 14 c) upstands from the support surface and is spaced from the second lateral wall 16 a (14 b). The second lateral wall 16 a (14 b) and third lateral wall 16 b (14 c) define sides of a second merchandise display unit 10 b of the merchandise display system 44.

A fourth lateral wall 16 c upstands from a second side edge of the support surface 12 and is spaced from the third lateral wall 16 b (14 c). The third lateral wall 16 b (14 c) and fourth lateral wall 16 c define sides of a third merchandise display unit 10 c of the merchandise display system 44.

The merchandise display unit system 44 further comprises a display receptacle 18 located at a front edge of the support surface 12. As in the one or more embodiments described previously, the display receptacle 18 may be removably coupled to the support surface 12 and is configured to retain a front-most merchandise item received from each merchandise display unit 10 a, 10 b, 10 c in a display orientation.

The support surface elements 48 are locatable in the display receptacle 18 to modify an inner surface profile of the display receptacle IS. That is, without the support surface elements 48, the display receptacle with the particular profile illustrated may be suitable for holding merchandise items having triangular cross-section (e.g. sandwiches). However, by providing the support surface elements 48 in the display receptacle 18 of the merchandise display system 44, the system can be modified to display merchandise items having different cross-sectional profiles.

As noted above, FIG. 7b illustrates the merchandise display system 44 with the support surface elements 48 in an engaged position. FIGS. 7c and 7d , which illustrate a side view and enlarged side view, respectively, of the merchandise display system 44, also show the support surface elements 48 in an engaged position in the merchandise display system 44.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7c and 7d , the display region support surface 24 forms an acute angle θ with the retaining portion 26. However, with the support surface elements 48 in position, the support surface elements 48 provide a support surface that overlies that of the transfer region 20 and display region support surface 24 and which forms an acute angle α with the retaining portion 26 that is greater (i.e. less acute) than acute angle θ. Thus, the merchandise display system 44 is effectively “converted” by inclusion of the support surface elements 48 so as to be configured to hold and display, in a display orientation, merchandise items having different shapes (e.g. non-triangular, such as, for example, square, rectangular, etc.).

The support surface elements 48 provide an extension to the support surface 12 beyond the front edge of the support surface 12 and lessen the angle of inclination to the horizontal of a supporting surface in the display receptacle 18 compared with that of the transfer region 20.

The support surface elements 48 may be coupled or engaged to the merchandise display system 44 by suitable engagement elements to provide, for example, “snap-fit” or “push-fit” engagement.

Although the merchandise display system illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b comprises two support surface elements 48, in one or more other embodiments the merchandise display system may comprise one support surface element 48, or greater than two support surface elements 48.

FIGS. 8a to 8d illustrate a similar arrangement to that of FIGS. 7a to 7d , i.e. an element for location in a merchandise display system 44 to modify the internal surface configuration of the display receptacle 18 so that the modified merchandise display system 44 may be suitable to hold and display, in a display orientation, merchandise items having different shapes to those that it is configured to hold and display in the unmodified configuration. To achieve this, the one or more embodiments of FIGS. 8a to 8d employ an elongate support surface element 50, instead of support surface elements 48.

As with FIGS. 7a and 7b , in FIGS. 8a and 8b the elongate support surface element 50 is shown in a position above a position where it is to be located (to illustrate that the elongate support surface element 50 is, in the illustrated example, a removable element that can be added to an existing merchandise display system (and also removed therefrom)). In FIG. 8b , the elongate support surface element is shown in an operational position in the merchandise display system 44.

Elongate support surface element 50 comprises an elongate planar element with a front edge 52 that is angled upwards. When in the operational position (see FIG. 8b ), the elongate support surface element 50 rests on the support surface 12. Front edge 52 of the elongate support surface element 50 extends beyond the front edge of the support surface 12.

As noted above, FIG. 8b illustrates the merchandise display system 44 with the elongate support surface element 50 in an operational position. FIGS. 8c and 8d , which illustrate a side view and enlarged side view, respectively, of the merchandise display system 44, also show the elongate support surface element 50 in an operational position in the merchandise display system 44.

Thus, as can be seen from FIGS. 8c and 8d , the display region support surface 24 forms an acute angle θ with the retaining portion 26. However, with the elongate support surface element 50 in position, the front edge 52 of the elongate support surface element 50 provides a support surface that overlies that of the transfer region 20 and display region support surface 24 and which forms an acute angle α with the retaining portion 26 that is greater (i.e. less acute) than acute angle θ. Thus, the merchandise display system 44 is effectively “converted” by inclusion of the elongate support surface element 50 so as to be configured to receive merchandise items having different shapes (e.g. non-triangular, such as, for example, square, rectangular, etc.).

The elongate support surface element 50 provides an extension to the support surface 12 beyond the front edge of the support surface 12 and lessens the angle of inclination to the horizontal of a supporting surface in the display receptacle 18 compared with that of the transfer region 20.

The elongate support surface element 50 may be coupled or engaged to the merchandise display system 44 by suitable engagement elements to provide, for example, “snap-fit” or “push-fit” engagement, or simply may rest upon the support surface 12 (as described above).

In the illustrated one or more embodiments of FIGS. 8a and 8b , the elongate support surface element 50 comprises a plurality of ridges 54 disposed on an upper surface thereof. These ridges 54 may be suitable to reduce friction between the surface of the elongate support surface element 50 and merchandise items disposed thereon (to ease forward movement of the merchandise items towards the display receptacle). However, these ridges 54 may be omitted in optional arrangements, or may be replaced with other friction reducing elements and/or agents.

In an optional arrangement, the merchandise display unit may comprise a shelf-ready packaging unit. That is, the unit may be stocked with merchandise items by a merchandise item supplier and wrapped in packaging material to form a shelf-ready packaging (SRP) unit. The SRP unit can be transported to a store in this state, at which point the packaging material can be removed so that the merchandise display unit can be located on a merchandise display system. This arrangement may reduce the workload of store operatives, because the merchandise item is pre-loaded with merchandise items.

In the above-described one or more embodiments, the merchandise display units comprise, in an example, lateral side walls that extend to a height greater than a height of merchandise items that the merchandise display units are intended to hold (i.e. the merchandise items in a “column” are substantially surrounded by the lateral walls to either side of the column of items and the support surface beneath the column). In one or more further optional arrangements, the lateral side walls may be lower than a height of the merchandise items that the merchandise display units are intended to hold.

In the above-described one or more embodiments, the merchandise display units are described, in an example, as comprising a display receptacle, which is removably coupled to the support surface. In one or more further optional arrangements, the display receptacle may be integrally formed with the support surface.

In the above-described one or more embodiments, the merchandise display units are described, in an example, as having an inclined support surface. To accommodate such units, a supporting surface (e.g. a shelf) upon which the units are located must have the same inclination. In one or more further optional arrangements, the support surface of the units may be designed for location on a horizontal surface (with a biasing element in the unit to achieve the forward urging of the merchandise items) and with the display receptacle designed to receive the merchandise items from a horizontally oriented support surface.

In the above-described one or more embodiments, angles θ and a are referred to as “acute” angles. However, in optional arrangements, these angles may be 90°, or may be greater than 90° depending upon the shape of the merchandise items to be displayed.

Any references made herein to orientation (e.g. top, bottom, upper, lower, front, back, left, right, horizontal and vertical) are made for the purposes of describing relative spatial arrangements of the features of the apparatus, and are not intended to be limiting in any sense.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

In addition, the terms “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the invention. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is means otherwise.

In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, embodiments in accordance with the invention are not limited to any of the particular materials disclosed herein. Other materials suitable for performing the function described herein for a particular material may also be utilized in embodiments of the invention.

The scope of the present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination of features disclosed therein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective of whether or not it relates to the claimed invention or mitigate against any or all of the problems addressed by the present invention. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features during prosecution of this application or of any such further application derived therefrom. In particular, with reference to the appended claims, features from dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims and features from respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely in specific combinations enumerated in the claims. 

1. A unit for a merchandise display system, comprising: a support surface for supporting a plurality of merchandise items in a first orientation and defining a travel path for said plurality of merchandise items to a display receptacle, said support surface configured to urge said plurality of merchandise items to said display receptacle; said display receptacle coupled to a dispensing end of said support surface and comprising: a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of said plurality of merchandise items from said support surface to a display region and reorienting said at least front-most merchandise item from said first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and said display region for receiving said at least front-most merchandise item from said support surface and for holding said front-most merchandise item in said display orientation in which a display surface of said at least front-most merchandise item is upright.
 2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said travel path is further defined between a first lateral wall upstanding from a first lateral edge of said support surface and a second lateral wall upstanding from a second lateral edge of said support surface.
 3. A unit according to claim 2, wherein a width of said travel path corresponds to a spacing between said first and second lateral walls and wherein said travel path width is configurable to correspond approximately to a merchandise item width.
 4. A unit according to claim 2, wherein said first lateral wall comprises, at an end remote from said support surface, and over at least a portion of a length of said first lateral wall, a flange that extends transversely toward said second lateral wall, and said second lateral wall comprises, at an end remote from said support surface, and over at least a portion of a length of said second lateral wall, a flange that extends transversely toward said first lateral wall.
 5. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said support surface comprises a friction reducing agent.
 6. A unit according to claim 5, wherein said friction reducing agent comprises a low-friction sheet disposed on said support surface.
 7. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said support surface further comprises a biasing element arranged to urge said plurality of merchandise items to said display receptacle.
 8. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said support surface is inclined relative to a horizontal.
 9. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said transfer region comprises a surface inclined relative to a horizontal.
 10. A unit according to claim 9, wherein said support surface is inclined relative to said horizontal, and wherein an angle of inclination of said support surface to said horizontal is less than an angle of inclination of said surface of said transfer region to said horizontal.
 11. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said display region comprises a retaining portion and a display region support surface, said display region support surface for supporting a merchandise item in said display receptacle and said retaining portion for maintaining said merchandise item in said display orientation.
 12. A unit according to claim 11, wherein said retaining portion forms an acute angle with said display region support surface.
 13. A unit according to claim 12, wherein said acute angle is 45°.
 14. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit comprises a discrete unit configured for location on a shelf of said merchandise display system.
 15. A unit according to claim 14, wherein said unit comprises an engagement element for coupling said unit to a cooperative engagement element located on said shelf of said merchandise display system.
 16. A unit according to claim 15, wherein said engagement element comprises a runner system for engagement with a cooperative runner system of said cooperative engagement element of said shelf of said merchandise display system, said runner system configured to permit movement of said unit from a display position on said shelf to an extended position in front of said shelf.
 17. A unit according to claim 15, wherein said unit is removable from said shelf of said merchandise display system.
 18. A unit according to claim 14, wherein said unit further comprises said plurality of merchandise items located therein.
 19. A unit according to claim 18, further comprising a removable packaging enclosing said unit.
 20. A unit according to claim 1, further comprising a support surface element located in said unit, said support surface element configured to cover said transfer region of said display receptacle and a portion of said display region of said display receptacle, said support surface element for transferring said at least front-most merchandise item of said plurality of merchandise items from said support surface to a raised display region formed from at least a portion of said support surface element and an uncovered portion of said display region.
 21. A unit according to claim 20, wherein said portion of said support surface element is configured to serve as said support surface of said unit.
 22. A unit according to claim 20, wherein said support surface element comprises at least one of a friction reducing agent and a friction reducing element.
 23. A unit according to claim 22, wherein said at least one of said friction reducing agent and said friction reducing element comprises a low-friction sheet disposed on said support surface element.
 24. A merchandise display system, comprising: a shelving array comprising a plurality of shelves; at least one unit according to claim 1 located on at least one of said plurality of shelves.
 25. A merchandise display system according to claim 24, wherein said support surface comprises a shelf surface.
 26. A display receptacle for a unit of a merchandise display system, comprising: an engagement element for coupling said display receptacle to a dispensing end of a support surface of said unit; a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of a plurality of merchandise items located on said unit from said support surface to a display region and reorienting said at least front-most merchandise item from a first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and said display region for receiving said at least front-most merchandise item from said support surface and for holding said at least front-most merchandise item in said display orientation in which a display surface of said at least front-most merchandise item is upright.
 27. A display receptacle for a merchandise display system, comprising: an engagement element for coupling said display receptacle to a dispensing end of a shelf of said merchandise display system, said shelf comprising a support surface of said merchandise display system; a transfer region for transferring at least a front-most merchandise item of a plurality of merchandise items located on said merchandise display system from said support surface to a display region and reorienting said at least front-most merchandise item from a first orientation to a second, display orientation during transfer; and said display region for receiving said at least front-most merchandise item from said support surface and for holding said at least front-most merchandise item in said display orientation in which a display surface of said at least front-most merchandise item is upright.
 28. A display receptacle according to claim 27, wherein said transfer region comprises a surface inclined relative to a horizontal.
 29. A display receptacle according to claim 28, wherein said support surface is inclined relative to said horizontal, and wherein an angle of inclination of said support surface to said horizontal is less than an angle of inclination of said surface of said transfer region to said horizontal.
 30. A display receptacle according to claim 29, wherein said display region comprises a retaining portion and a display region support surface, said display region support surface for supporting a merchandise item in said display receptacle and said retaining portion for maintaining said merchandise item in said display orientation.
 31. A display receptacle according to claim 30, wherein said retaining portion forms an acute angle with said display region support surface.
 32. A display receptacle according to claim 31, wherein said acute angle is 45°.
 33. A support surface element locatable in a unit according to claim 1, said support surface element configured to cover said transfer region of said display receptacle of said unit and a portion of said display region of said display receptacle of said unit, said support surface element for transferring said at least front-most merchandise item of said plurality of merchandise items in said unit from said support surface of said unit to a raised display region formed from at least a portion of said support surface element and an uncovered portion of said display region. 